TOLEDO, Ohio – The Toledo women's volleyball team swept Northern Illinois, 3-0 (25-21, 25-22, 25-18) in the conference opener Friday evening

Toledo (8-5, 1-0 MAC) was led by fifth-year senior Taylor Alt who tallied 18 kills on a .359 clip, while adding four digs and an ace. Junior Izzy Granger recorded her fourth double-double of the season, totaling 11 kills and 12 digs with a hitting percentage of .440. Granger also tied her season high with four service aces.

Redshirt freshman Sierra Pertzborn added nine terminations of her own on a .462 clip to go alongside a team-high three blocks. Sophomore Caylee Sharkey had six kills and junior Anna Alford tallied four.

Sophomore setter Macy Hatkevich totaled 35 assists, averaging 11.7 per set, while freshman libero Grace Freiberger had 10 digs of her own. Junior defensive specialist Macy Medors totaled a season-best seven digs while freshman Maija Eglitis had a career-best four digs and one service ace.

"Good start to the weekend," said Head Coach Jason Oliver. "We had a great team effort tonight. We will need to be ready tomorrow for a fired up NIU team. Adjustments will be key to make it a great weekend."

Northern Illinois (2-9, 0-1 MAC) was led by Nazli Guvener with 15 kills.

HOW IT HAPPENED
SET ONE (25-21 Toledo)

• After trading early points, Toledo was able to pull away and gain an eight-point lead off of a 10-0 surge. Izzy Granger totaled three aces while Taylor Alt added three kills during the run to get ahead, 18-10.
• Back-to-back kills from Anna Alford and Alt kept Toledo in front, 21-15.
• Northern Illinois got within three, 23-20, but a kill from Granger and a Huskie error secured the set win for the Rockets.

SET TWO (25-22 Toledo)

• Northern Illinois took its biggest lead of the set, 12-7, off of a block and two kills in a 5-0 run.
• The Rockets cut into the lead, 14-13, thanks to a 5-1 run powered by Alt at the service line.
• Caylee Sharkey and Sierra Pertzborn powered off kills to help keep Toledo in front, 18-16.
• The Rockets kept the lead off of two Huskie errors. Two quick kills from Sharkey ended the set to put Toledo up 2-0.

SET THREE (25-18 Toledo)

• A 7-1 surge by the Rockets, highlighted by back-to-back blocks from Pertzborn, Sharkey and Granger, put the squad in front 11-5.
• Northern Illinois cut the lead to three, 16-13, with a block and a kill.
• Pertzborn's ninth kill of the night put Toledo at set point, 24-17, and Taylor Alt secured the sweep with her 18th kill of the match.

UP NEXT
The Rockets meet the Huskies in the weekend finale on Saturday, Sept. 28 at Savage Arena. First serve is set for 4:00 p.m. on ESPN+.

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